Bentley vs. Mercedes, showdown of luxocoupes

43LE submitted on 07/30/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 8:22 PM
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Bentley vs. Mercedes, showdown of luxocoupes

In short, the 2007 Bentley Continental GT and the 2007 Mercedes-Benz CL600 are among the world's very finest vehicles. Both are blisteringly quick, but neither makes intense demands on the driver's concentration like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. Conversely, their rides are plush and mannered, but these are not isolation chambers like a Maybach or Rolls-Royce. These are driver's cars. Read Article

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Lexus - 7/30/2007 8:51:16 PM

+1 Boost

I would rather get the Bentley instead of MB because after all, isn't price in this category is all about Prestige?

I would chose the Bentley on any given day!

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Bill - 7/30/2007 9:42:07 PM

-3 Boost

Mercedes-Benz has just as much, if not more "prestige" than Bentley, especially when it comes to the CL-Class.

ThierryHenry14 - 7/30/2007 10:21:21 PM

+2 Boost

get a clue bill...

Bill - 7/30/2007 10:29:37 PM

-3 Boost

I have a "clue". If we examine history, Mercedes is equally as prestigeous as Bentley. I won't go into the specifics, but both Mercedes and Bentley have been around for a long time, since the early 1900s (MB dates back to 1886 essentially) and both have participated heavily in motorsports, innovation etc. Heck, Mercedes-Benz has more innovations up their sleeve and more motorsports heritage than Bentley if we go into detail. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/31/2007 3:22:46 AM

-5 Boost

You are spot-on Bill.

bmwdrvr - 7/31/2007 8:30:21 AM

+5 Boost

mercedes may have been around as long as bentley, but so has Ford, so lets be honest how long a company has been around has some prestige but how much does it carry, especially now a days. While mercedes has always had high priced cars, bentley/rolls royce has always had cars that were high as the highest mercedes and than went past that, bentley's heritage has alot to do with racing, so it depends on your idea of prestige

EnnNorak - 7/31/2007 9:57:56 AM

0 Boost

Don't spend money on prestige unless you don't have any on your own merits and need prestige for business or similar reasons. If fine art and good workmanship makes you feel good all over, then a work of art like the Bentley Brooklands coupe might be justified for health reasons. Any adequately powered vehicle with comfortable seats and ride is good enough for me.

BMW4me4ever - 7/31/2007 10:46:44 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

enn ... we already know that you are as cheap as they come, but this article is about the affluent. This is Bentley and Mercedes. Even though my dealer sells the Mercedes CL600, I would have to go with the Bentley Coupe. The Bentley is a beautiful car that wreaks of status, prestige, sexiness, power .....

ThierryHenry14 - 8/1/2007 9:49:54 PM

+1 Boost

Bill, I apologize. I said get a clue to the "if not more prestigous" part. I should have been more clear. But yes, Some Mercs are more "luxurious" and worthy than certain Bentley, but overall, an MB is not on pars with a Bentley.

by that I mean, an S-klasse or CL-klasse is much more prestigious than a Bentley GT (a mass market vehicle designed to give Bentley penetration in the mass market in the US). Personally, I would take the GT, because it is still more rare and carries the Bentley name.

Don't get me wrong, I love MB, but Bentley is another level up.

cdoke - 7/30/2007 8:51:28 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Same here. I do like the lithe appearance of the Mercedes, but when push comes to shove I am an interior person, and I would take the Bentley- despite the fact that I really don't consider it a true Bentley. The intior is simply nicer and far more charming.

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Lexus - 7/30/2007 8:55:23 PM

0 Boost

cdoke, did you saw the Bentley Continental GT-C posted by agent001 last month I belief in Sky blue color? The interior in that Bentley was just mouth watering Gorgeous...........

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cdoke - 7/30/2007 9:15:11 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I did- the interior was just immaculate.

no1listensanyway - 7/30/2007 8:56:53 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Im not really a fan of the new CL. The previous generation was one of the best looking cars that money can buy. I would def have to go with the Bentley on this one. Its visually more appealing and much more prestigous.

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charlik05 - 7/30/2007 9:01:56 PM

+3 Boost

the CL hands down. there are too many gt's on the road. that and the cl has a prestige of its own which is not commercialized like the Bentley or any other super car. it is refined and exclusive, which is how it should be.

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Htay7500 - 7/30/2007 9:55:37 PM

+5 Boost

I agree, I live near MDs only Bentley dealership as well as some of MDs biggest MB showroom/dealership. GTs are common place. CL ftw.

Larry - 7/30/2007 9:49:57 PM

-2 Boost

the bentley looks better, also so many people have Mercedes, the Mercedes CL 600, is a super car

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Lexus - 7/30/2007 9:54:21 PM

-3 Boost

Bill, you said, MB has just as much or more prestige than the Bentley? yeah right whatever bro. You need stop whatever you are smoking right now bro.

No matter how many horse power MB has or how fast it goes, it will always a MB. Bentley is on another class above MB.

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Bill - 7/30/2007 10:31:06 PM

+2 Boost

Please tell me why, fanboy.

Do you even know the history of Bentley or Mercedes-Benz? The way you put it, "an MB will always be an MB" sounds very disdainful. You apparently have no clue about the MB brand.

Bill - 7/30/2007 10:32:42 PM

+5 Boost

One more thing, weren't you the guy who claimed "the Lexus LS600h competes with Bentley and Rolls Royce..."?

I guess I should say a "Lexus will always be a rebadged Toyota...", eh?

E39Sleeper - 7/30/2007 11:08:08 PM

+5 Boost

When it comes to craftmanship, i think the Bentley is a step above the Benz. Despite history and innovation, etc. Bottom line is how the brand is perceived by the general public, MB has a good brand but the bentley stands above.

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Lexus - 7/31/2007 12:39:04 AM

+1 Boost

Bill, it easy, just google, you must be really dumb to not use google. MB is first automotor in the world so what? what have they done lately?

MB is NOTHING when compare to Bentley, Lambo, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. When you compare MB to the like of those prestige brands is like comparing a Kia to a Lexus. Get the point billy boy? good....

Only retard would buy a MB when for the same price get Bentley, in this price segment prestige speak my little friend.

What dweeb..

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SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/31/2007 3:30:43 AM

+2 Boost

You couldn't be more wrong kid. The Mercedes V12 engine is one the most prestigious engines of all time.
Mercedes has small and rubbish models (like the A-class) but it still the best at building big coupes and sedans. That's what Mercs are all about.

Bentley also has HUGE amount of prestige and heritage, but this Continental is cheaper and way too German. It's still a real Bentley but not in the same way an Arnage or Brooklands is.

CL600 versus Conti GT is very good comparo. A CL600 versus a Brooklands would be not.

Rupert - 7/31/2007 5:49:20 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Lexus, I'd have the CL over the Bentley, I think it's the better car...

The Continental GT is for Paris Hilton and Footballer's wives, the CL is much more refined and discreet.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/31/2007 7:26:46 AM

+1 Boost

Totally agree Rupert. The Continental GT and GTC are cars you see in rapmusic clips. Unbelievable how they ruin such a beautiful car. Pimping is just ridiculous.

Bill - 7/31/2007 8:26:43 AM

+2 Boost

"MB is NOTHING when compare to Bentley, Lambo, Ferrari, and Aston Martin. When you compare MB to the like of those prestige brands is like comparing a Kia to a Lexus. Get the point billy boy? good...."

You couldn't be MORE WRONG. Mercedes competes exactly with these brands. Mercedes simply offers more products, some of which are aimed at markets a notch or two below these luxury brands, but prestige wise, it is safe to say that Mercedes has more prestige and achievements up their sleeve than those other brands.

And what has Mercedes done these days? You're a Lexus fan and you don't know? You should. MB has done a lot. Lexus for example took the Mercedes Pre-Safe system, developed their own version and claimed "they invented it". You should know these things...

BMW4me4ever - 7/31/2007 10:49:53 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Lexus .. question what are the 2 most recongnizable cars in the world? Rolls Royce & Mercedes hands down. Mercedes more than any other luxury marque that offers a bevy of models is one of the 2 most prestigious cars in the world.

pushrod27 - 7/31/2007 6:28:45 PM

+3 Boost

You are a moron. Just because MB has down market models, that does not erode the prestige of 'real' Mercedes Benz models. Your perception is that Bentley is more prestigious because they don't sell anything for less than $150k. Seeing a million C-class sedans around is causing you to devalue the hallowed name of Mercedes-Benz. Bentley is exclusive, but the truth is that for much of it's history, Bentley was nothing more than a rebadged Rolls and an afterthought.

enthusiastx11 - 7/31/2007 12:58:32 AM

+1 Boost

a wonderful german car whichever you choose.

but they do attract very different types of money. most who buy a CL600 wouldn't be caught dead in a car as flashy as the bentley. and most who buy a bentley don't find the CL600 flashy enough...

they're both amazing, so it's more about what you want to project...

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EnnNorak - 7/31/2007 10:22:30 AM

0 Boost

The only problem is that Mercedes' V12 still has only 3 valves per cylinder, even in the Maybach. That is unacceptable.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/31/2007 3:21:57 AM

+1 Boost

CL all the way. It is scarely fast! 4.2 to 60 is amazing. That shows the amount of precision and engineering that went into setting up the 5-speed gearbox in combination with 830 Nm of torque and available grip..

Also the CL600 nameplate just screams prestige and elegance.

The interior of the Bentley is nice designwise, but the Merc has much better fit and finish. Really, apart from the Bugatti Veyron it's the best in the world.

The CL is typical Mercedes. Big, fast, innovation, luxury,image and built like a rock.

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Will_ - 7/31/2007 6:51:48 AM

+1 Boost

Bentley no question. There are way too many German fanatics here. Face it: the Bentley has more cache than the Mercedes. Yes, both of them have extreme levels of cache and "prestige, magic etc." to begin with, but the Bentley has even more. Plus, the CL loses to the Bentley for the fact that they "borrowed" inspiration for their interior from BMW.

The arguments of "the Bentley is too common" are hysterical! I've seen way more CLs than Continental GTs on the streets.

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SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/31/2007 7:29:19 AM

-1 Boost

Not the Continental GT.

enthusiastx11 - 8/1/2007 1:11:30 AM

+2 Boost

they're both german cars.

Htay7500 - 7/31/2007 8:08:57 AM

-2 Boost

the more rappers debut, the more bentleys are sold. not to mention the crack addicts putting DUBs calling it a day.

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bmwdrvr - 7/31/2007 8:27:33 AM

+5 Boost

i would personally rather have the bentley, not that the mercedes isnt nice. its extremely nice, and very nice looking, but im not for coupes that are that size, and Mercedes really is an everyday brand, if im going to spend that kind of money i would want something more unique than a cl, so its the bentley out of these 2. but my choice in this segment would be the DB9, or 612 scaglieti

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07mcs - 7/31/2007 12:16:22 PM

+2 Boost

My choice for the Grand Tourers would definitely be the Aston Martin, really beautiful looking. The 612 is a Ferrari, but the looks is not as sexy as the AM.

PlanB - 7/31/2007 9:17:30 AM

+3 Boost

You really can't go wrong with either car, but if I had to choose I think I'd pick the Bentley too. I can walk outside and probably see a MB every 30 seconds. But the Bentley is just a bit more exclusive imo.

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PlanB - 7/31/2007 11:39:40 AM

+2 Boost

No, not just a CL, I'm referring to any MB in general.

07mcs - 7/31/2007 12:12:11 PM

+2 Boost

I think what makes Bentley more prestigious than MB, is because MB makes so many different models, that the low entry level ones are cheap enough and many people can afford it, while Bentley's cheapest model is still very expensive. So People view them as more prestigious. They are also more exclusive because of this strategy, where they only have a few models. MB on the other hand has many different engines for there A, B, C, E, S class.

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07mcs - 7/31/2007 12:14:29 PM

+2 Boost

Forgot to mention the CL, CLK, CLS, SLK, SL, ML, GL.

Did I miss any other model? Well you get my point. MB has so many different models, so they are not as exclusive as a Brand as Bentley is, and this is perceived by the public in general as more exclusive and prestigious.

IS3andME - 7/31/2007 12:35:41 PM

+1 Boost

Hmmm, the Bentley GT, a British car with a VW enigine, VW/Audi running gear and interior, against the CL600, which is all German anstayed true to it's roots. I gotta go with the CL600.

Although the the better comparo would have been the Bentley GT versus the SL600.

But as Car magazine said of the Bentley GT: "Cheap for a Bentley, expensive for a VW"

'Nuff said

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BM3W - 7/31/2007 2:51:27 PM

+2 Boost

I would personally take the turner tweaked 604-hp 2008 CL65 AMG. A much better value than the Bentley GT.

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mini22 - 7/31/2007 6:12:34 PM

0 Boost

Mercedes make very powerful well engineered cars. However the last Mercedes that showed off a prestigious luxurios interior was the 1971 Mercedes 280SE 3.5 Convertable. I would put that car up against any Rolls or Bentley. Quite simply that car reeked of class and prestige. No Mercedes since then has come close. My parents owned one in Tobacco Brown with Beige leather interior. I used to drive it to highschool.I wish we still owned it. The modern day Bentley Continental GT and GTC have that same look in my book.It;s not about how powerful the engine is. It's about the experience and feel of being in absolute luxury going down the road. Right now the Bentley has it over the Mercedes in spades.

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Rupert - 7/31/2007 7:32:11 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

You drove a 280 SE convertible to high school!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have no idea how much I envy you, that is my favorite Merc ever, I would do anything to have that car.

And you drove it to school!

And I agree, that car is on a par with the Rolls Corniche of a similar vintage, but I don't think the Continental GT is worthy of such praise, I think the Azure is, much more presence and luxury.
I also think the Ocean Drive convertible (the 4 door S class convertible) is the spiritual successor to the 280 SE convertible.

lasikdoc - 7/31/2007 6:24:05 PM

0 Boost

Living in La Jolla, down the street from the Bentley, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini dealers, I see lots of Benzes and lots of Continental GTs. I park next to a grey with saddle interior Continental GT every day. I personally think the Continental GT is way overpriced, having VW/Audi running gear, being way too heavy like the Phaeton, and having way too little space for the weight and the money. It does have a nice looking interior, but only impresses when one picks very unique light colors and contrasting colors. When in black, red, or or tan/saddle it is nice but not astounding like it looks in certain pictures. I have a 2007 CLS550 as one of my cars (black/tan), and although the quality of the hides and some fittings in the Bentley is nicer, the style of the interior of the CLS is significantly better and the quality of many of the switchgear, gauges, wood, and some of the other fittings is as good. The lease on my CLS is just over a $1000/month. The lease on a CL 550 is just under $2K/month. A CL600 jumps that to $3K/month. A Bentley Continental GT would cost me $4K/month. I own a CLS, a 911, and a Land Rover for myself. Could I have a Bentley? Yes. Would I pay 4K/month? For a car that I couldn't even put someone in the back seat of and that weighs almost as much as my Land Rover? No. For the same money I would rather have a CLS550 or S550, and a 911 Carrera S cabriolet. Maybe the super rich don't care about spending an extra 50 grand for less car, but the working well-to-do who can still afford these cars still do. Finally, I have to agree with the image issue of the Conti GT. Too often I see it driven by people that want to attract attention to themselves by showing off their money. Look at what the top celebrities drive. People like Paris Hilton and rappers drive Continental GTs. Real actors/celebrities like Clint Eastwood, Robert De Niro, Jerry Seinfeld, Brad Pitt, and so on drive Benzes, Porsches, and Range Rovers.

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lasikdoc - 7/31/2007 6:59:36 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, you can really get a feel for how overpriced the Conti GT is by looking at the Mulliner edition. For what it adds to the car, $20K is almost laughable.

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sedaine - 8/1/2007 2:40:14 PM

+2 Boost

You want to know the reason why Mercedes is not as prestigious as Bentley?

It's called, "Let's make a car called Maybach that competes with Rolls and Bentley!"

Any more questions?

reply to this comment

JWalkerLegrande - 8/1/2007 3:05:54 PM

+1 Boost

Bentley Continental GT MANSORY 630 hp/750 Nm torque

The best car on Earth this side of the Conquistador. Google it, you'll agree.

reply to this comment

ThierryHenry14 - 8/1/2007 9:51:19 PM

+1 Boost

We are comparing top of the line MB and Entry level Bentley.

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Agent63 - 8/2/2007 7:54:03 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

I personally think that the CL600 is comparable to the Bentley. Like the video said in this segment it's a segment where money and price of a car doesn't matter. So what if a Mercedes is put side by side a Bentley. Just because it wasn't a Lexus put beside a Bentley doesn't mean the CL isn't a good car. Prestige both are up there that is a given. Surely the Bentley is more recognized traditionally as the 'more luxurious' one of the two. But some of you Lexus fans are putting down the CL like it's nothing compared to the GT. You guys are completely wrong. If you have test driven or sat in the new CL you guys will be surprised.

It's got a plush and very roomy interior with a nice ride comfort and a great engine. Like the video said at this price range the owners can afford either one I'm sure. If the CL had a Rolls Royce badge it would have more prestige and you guys know you would be thinking that.

By the way, there is no Lexus car that can compete with a CL so there really isn't much to talk about on that front. Sure the LF-A is coming out but it's not really any MB competitor in particular but the closest one would be the SL but even then different buyers for LF-A and SL. With the current SC430 it's an ugly turtle that wished it had a make over. Lexus really needs to re-do the SC. I loved the old SC400 it looked much more sleek than the chubby 430.

Anyways, we are comparing a high end MB to a so called 'lower end' Bentley but no Bentley is low end and there is no such thing as 'entry level'. The level of luxury on all cars throughout their range is very similar. Of course the suspension settings are different from a GT to the most expensive Bentley due to the targeted buyer looking for less sporty but slightly more luxury.

In the end I think any car owner would love to have either the CL or GT in their drive way.

reply to this comment

EL34 - 8/2/2007 10:53:29 PM

0 Boost

lol

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